Lightning rod coupler



June 2, 1931. E. c. CRIF'E LIGHTNING ROD COUPLER Filed-July 10, 1929 Z, 6. Una we Patented June 2, 1931 UNITED STATES EARN'EST C. CRIPE, OF GOSHEN, INDIANA LIGHTNING non cournnn Application filed July 10, 1929. Serial No. 377,303.

This invention relates to a coupler for lightning rods, one of the objects being to provide coupling members which can be applied to the ends of lightning rod sections in such 6 away as to form an intimate contact between the parts and to prevent them from separating except by severing the parts.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description pro-- ceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that oh angcs in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings,

Figure 1 is a perspective View of a section of lightning rod showing a coupling member connected to each end thereof.

Figure 2v is a similar view showing the coupling members prior to being applied to the section of the lightning rod.

Figure 3 is a section showing two of the coupling members joined, one of the cou pling members being crimped into permanent engagement with one lightning rod section while the other coupling member is shown in position on its rod section prior to crimpmg.

Figure 4 is an end view of one of the coupling members.

Figure 5 is a section on line 5-5, Figure 3. Referring to the figures by characters of reference, 1 designates a lightning rod section formed of the usual spiral ribs extending in the direction of it slength, each end of the section 1 being formed with a transverse lip 2 which serves to close opposed spaces between the ribs thereby to produce pockets 3.

The coupling for use with each rod sec tion is formed of two members indicated at 4 and 5 respectively. The member 4 has an angular recess 6 extending thereinto from one end for the reception of one end of the rod 1, the inner end of this recess being provided with reinforcing lugs 7 that extend toward each other from opposed walls and serve to reinforce the coupling where the walls of recess 6 join the remaining portion of the coupling. Another recess 8 is extended into the other end of the coupling member 4 and has its wall screw-threaded as shown particularly in Figure 3.

The other coupling member 5 is provided with a screw-threaded stub 9 that extends from one end'thereof while an agular recess similar to the recess 6 is formed in the other end thereof and adapted to receive one end of the lightning rod section 1.

After coupling members 4 and 5 have been applied to the opposed ends of a lightning rod section so that the lips 2 thereof will extend between the lugs 7 the walls of said mmebers 4 and 5' are crimped or pressed inwardly so as to bear within the angles formed between those portions of the ribs of the rods located in the recesses. As some of these inwardly pressed portions or crimps Wlll extend into the pockets 3 it will be obvious that after the crimping operation it will be impossible to remove the members 4 and 5 from the rod and an intimate contact between the parts is insured under all conditions.

Rods with the coupling members such as described may be joined end to end by screwing the studs 9 into the recesses 8.

hat is claimed is:

1. The combination with a rod having longitudinal ribs and means at the ends of the rod for closing the ends of the spaces between the ribs, thereby to form pockets, of coupling members having recesses into which the respective ends of the rod project, the walls of the recesses being pressed into the pockets to hold the rod against withdrawal from the recesses, and means carried by the coupling members for joining them to other elements.

2. The combination with a lightning rod having ribs joined at one end to form a pocket, of a coupling member having a recess in which said pocket is seated, said recess having a wall depressed into the pocket to prevent withdrawal of the rod from the recess.

3. The combination with a lightning rod or the like having longitudinal ribs of a lip extending across one end of the rod and closing the spaces between the ribs to provide pockets, a coupling member having a recess, opposed lugs in the recess, said lip being seated between the lugs and the pockets concealed in the recess, opposed walls of: the recess being compressed into the pockets to hold the rod and coupling against separation.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto affixed my signature.

' EARNEST C. GRI PE 

